Monocurtain screening switch



w. A. HILLENBRAND ET AL 3,358,319

MONOCURTAIN SCREENING SWITCH Dec. 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 11, 1965 @M@ w n f m 5 m m w 0 g w/ wa W K @E W M 1w b\ 5 k WW Dec. 19, 1967 w. A. HILLENBRAND ET AL 3,353,319

MONOCURTAIN SCREENING SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1965 [we Wdlzczmd fldlenb rand,

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Eage 7 wmw l l l Hl ul l lwm 511-1 United States Patent Ollice 3,358,319 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 MONOCURTAIN SCREENING SWITCH William A. Hillenbrand, Franklin County, and Eugene H. Fullenkamp, Batesville, Ind, assiguors to Hill-Rom Company, Inc., Batesville, Ind, a corporatien of Indiana Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,644 13 Claims. (Cl. 1687.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Screening switch operable by a curtain into selected position enabling the curtain to screen a selected one of two adjacent hospital beds.

This invention relates to a switch mechanism for selectively connecting a head section curtain supporting track to either one of a pair of foot section tracks and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved switch mechanism of this type.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a switch mechanism supported upon a ceiling between a single head section track and a pair of foot section tracks, which mechanism is operated by curtain supporting hook means to lead said means to a selected one of said foot section tracks.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a switch mechanism for a curtain supporting track assemblage, which mechanism is operated by pulling the leading edge of a curtain that is supported by hook means engaged with the track, in the direction towards which the curtain is to be placed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism operable to permit a single curtain to be moved into position to screen either one of a pair of hospital beds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling mounted screening switch which is of simple design and rugged construction and is capable of operating in a satisfactory manner for a long period of time without any maintenance.

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom. side plan view of the switch mechanism installed in a track assemblage;

FIG. 2 is a bottom side plan view of the switch mechanism drawn to an enlarged scale;

1- I( 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the guide plates and direction selector omitted;

FIG. 4 is. a cross-sectional View taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3 with the guide plates and direction selector in place;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line5-5 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the switch mechanism, partly in section along the line 66 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 8 is a crosssectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Semi-private rooms in a hospital are equipped with two beds placed parallel to each other with a suflicient space therebet'ween to permit administering to patients in the beds. Such rooms are also provided with a curtain, individual to each bed, which curtains are supported in tracks fixed to the ceiling, one track being positioned midway between the two beds and extending from th wall at the head of the bed to the foot thereof and thence across the foot end of the bed to the adjacent wall. The other track is supported between the other bed and the adjacent wall and extends from the head of th bed to the foot thereof and thence across the foot to close proximity to the first-mentioned track. A curtain supported in each track is adapted to he pulled around the associated bed to screen that bed while a patient therein is being administered to by a nurse or doctor.

Thes curtains, which are usually about sixteen feet long and are wide enough to extent from the ceiling to a point well below the upper surface of the bed, are quite heavy and the laundering of the curtains adds considerable weight to the already heavily burdened laundry facilities of the hospital. As a result of this fact, in the absence of an accident soiling the curtain to such an extent that immediate laundering thereof is imperative, such curtains are usually laundered much less frequently than they should be.

The present invention seeks to eliminate this difliculty by providing a track switch of simple construction and reliable operation, through the use of which switch a single curtain, normally positioned on a head end ceiling track between the two beds, can be selectively moved to screen either one of the beds when a patient therein is to be administered to by a nurse or doctor. Through this arrangement of using but a single curtain to screen either of the two beds, the load imposed upon the laundering facilities of the hospital by the curtains is cut in half and more frequent laundering of the single curtain is thereby rendered possible. Further, the cost of supplying and replacing curtains is similarly reduced. v

in its preferred form the screening switch of the present invention is supported by the cefling of the room at the foot end of the head section track and between that track and the pair of foot section tracks, one for each of the beds. Preferably, the screening switch is arranged to be moved into position to guide the curtain into a desired one of the foot section tracks solely by a simple manipulation of the curtain itself while-the leading one of the hook means, which supports the curtain beneath the tracks, is positioned in the switch mechanism.

The present invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings where in FIG. 1 it will be seen that the switch mechanism of the present in-.

ing into a portion that extends laterally across the foot.

end of the bed. This particular type of rail members and the manner of attaching them to the ceiling are not of the essence of the present invention, suchdevices being well known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the channels in the track sections are blocked in their ends adjacent the walls of the room by suitable means 14 of known design to prevent the curtain-carrying means supported in the track from being disengaged therefrom.

As will be seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6, the switch mechanism 10 consists of a body containing a plate 20 that is spaced downwardly from the ceiling by side flanges 21.

' End walls 22 and 23 depend from the plate 2t and side flanges 24 depend from the plate and extend between the end walls. This arrangement forms a cavity within the body.

Located in this cavity is a carrier plate 26, from one end of which bosses 27 and 28 project a short distance. Bosses 27 and 28 define between them a groove 29. '7

Also depending from the plate 26 is a boss 30 that contains a slot 31 best seen in FIG. 3. A perforation 32 is located in the end of the plate 26 adjacent the boss 30.

Fixed to the carrier plate 26 is a directionselector 40 that has an integral thickened end portion 41 that contains an car 42 which projects into the slot 31 in the boss 30 to key the selector on the plate. A screw 43 projects through the perforation 32 in the plate 26 and is threaded into the projection 41 to secure the direction finder upon the plate.

As will be seen best in 1 16.6, the end wall 23 of the body contains a recessed portion 44 that is engaged by the portion 4i of the selector. A pivot :screw 45 that extends through a perforation in the end wall 23 is threaded into the portion 41 of the director to pivotally mount the plate and director in the body.

As will be seen best in FIG. 2, the cavity in the body is closed by guide plates '50 and 51, each of which contain integral bosses 52 which project into sockets 53 in the end walls 22 and '23 of the body. Screws 54- extend through perforations in the plate 20- and are threaded into the bosses 52 to secure the guide plates upon the body of the switch. The exposed surfaces of the guide plates 50 and 51 and of the selector 40 all lie in a common plane. The adjacent edges of plates 50 and 51 form between them a slot 55 which is uniform in width from the head end of the switch to the approximate mid-point of the switch. Between this mid-point, the adjacent edges of the plates 50' and 51 diverge to the foot end of the switch. The planar portion of the selector 40 is disposed between the diverging edges of the plates. When the selector is in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, the slot is extended to the channel in foot end track 12. When the selector is in the position shown in dotted lines, the slot is extended to the channel in foot end track 13.

Projecting from the head end of the switch body is a tongue 60 that projects into slots 61 in the head end track 11. Screws 62' are threaded through the tongue 60 and engage the plate of the head track 11 to secure the body to the track.

Tongues 64 and 65 project from the foot end of the body and into slots in the tracks 13- and 12, respectively. Screws 66 are threaded through the tongues and engage the" body portion of the tracks to secure the body thereto. Tracks 11, 12 and 13 are secured to the ceiling of the room in known manner by suitable fastening means, and the engagement of tongues 60, 64 and 65 with the tracks serve to support the switch 10 against the ceiling.

As will be seen in FIGS. 3'; 4, and 7, buttons 56 depend fromthe carrierplate 26 and bear against the guide plates 50 and 51 to maintain the carrier 26 spaced above the guide plates and in engagement with the plate 20 of thebody.

' The single curtain used for screening the two beds selectively is supported by hook means, the bodies of which are engaged irrthe tracks, which bodies are" equipped with hooks depending therefrom and supporting the curtain in the usual'man'ner.

As will be: seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the body portion 70" of the lead hook means, preferably molded from a suitable low friction plastic material, carries a hook 71, to. which the leading edge of the curtain 72 is attached. The body portion 70 contains laterally opening grooves 73 which. engage the slot forming edges of the guide plates- 50 and 51 and the direction selector 40. Projecting upwardly from the body portion 70 is a tongue 74' which projects into the slot 29' in the carrier 26 when the lead hook has moved from the track 11 into the switch 10. Aswill be seenbest in FIG. 3, the edges of the bosses 27 and 28 at the head end of the carrier converge into the groove 29, which has parallel side walls, for a short distance before diverging to form a widened portion of the groove at the foot end section of the bosses 27 and 28.

4 This arrangement insures free movement of the tongue through the switch.

As seen in FIG. 7, the lead hook has been titled counterclockwise by pulling the leading edge of the curtain 72 to the right. Movement of the lead hook body 70 counterclockwise engages the tongue 74 with. the edge of the slot 29 in the carrier 26 to move the carrier 26 and: direction selector 40 carried thereby to the left asseen in this figure. In this position, the direction selector extends the slot formed by the guide plates to the desired foot end track so that the curtain supporting. hooks can pass' through the switch and into the desired track. The curtain is supported by a plurality of hooks, of which only the lead hook isshown. The bodies of the remaining hooks do not contain upwardly projecting tongues, suchas 74, consequently there is no danger of the position of the direction selector being changed as succeeding hooks pass through the switch mechanism.

As will be seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, the plate portion of the body 2!) contains an integral upwardly extending socket 76 in which a spring-pressed ball 77 is disposed. 1

The upper face of the carrier plate 26 contains spaced apart V-shaped indentations 78 into which the ball '77 projects to secure the carrier and directi'orr selector in set position.

When screening of the selected bed" is no Ion-ger necessary, the curtain is moved back through the switch and into the head section track II for storing as close to the wall as possible. As the lead hook passes through the switch, the tongue 74 thereon may engage the diverging wall of the groove 29 to move the carrier back to a neutral position in which the ball 77 engages the upper surface of the plate 26' between the indentations 78. This movement aligns the groove 29 with the slot 55 so that the tongue 74 can pass freely through the groove;

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the switch mechanism of the instant invention uti-iizes the natural tendency of an operator to pull the lead edge of thecurtain towards the bed that is to be screened to operate the switch into position to lead thec'urta-i'n support hooks into the desired foot end track. The switch mechanism is of simple design and rugged construction capablfe of remaining in proper" operating condition for a' longperiod of time without maintenance. The body of the switch mechanism, being devoid of visibie screws or other fastening device, presents a pleasing appearance.

Preferably, the switch body, the carrier plate, the direction selector, and the guide plates are all diecas'tings of a suitable metal such as a zinc alloy. Theuseof other materials and modes of forming these parts is contemplated.

While we have chosen to illustrate our invention by showing and describing a preferred embodiment of it, we have done so by way of example only, as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of our invention, what we consider new and desire to have protected by letters patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Mechanism for enabling a single curtain to be moved selectively into position to screeneither' one of a pair of hospital beds, comprising:

(a) a track supported by the ceiling between the beds and extending from the head ends thereof towardsthe foot ends thereof;

(b) a switch mechanism supported by the ceiling adj acent the foot end of said track;

(c) a pair of tracks one for each bed are supported by the ceiling and extend from the switch mechanism towards the foot ends of the beds, thence acros'sthe foot end of the associated bed;

(d) hook means for supporting the curtain beneath.

said tracks;

(e) and means on the lead one of said hook means for operating said switch mechanism responsive to swinging the lead edge of the curtain towards the bed to be screened, thereby to set the switch to lead the hook means into the foot end track associated with the selected bed.

2. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the switch mechanism contains means for maintaining it in operated position after the lead one of the hook means has passed through the switch into the selected foot end track.

3. A switch mechanism for connecting the channel of a head section track that is supported by the ceiling and i disposed mid-way between a pair of hospital beds selectively to either one of the channels in a pair of foot section ceiling tracks, each of which is supported by the ceiling and extends from said switch to and across the foot end of one of said beds, to enable a single curtain supported by hook means normally engaged in said head section track to be moved to screen the selected bed, said switch mechanism comprising:

(a) a body supported by the ceiling between said tracks;

(b) a selector carrier mounted in said body by pivot means engaging the end of the carrier adjacent the foot track end of the body;

(1) means on said selector carrier engaged by projecting means on the lead one of said hook means for moving said carrier around said pivot means, responsive to swinging the leading edge of the curtain towards the bed to be screened;

(c) a pair of guide plates fixed upon said body beneath said carrier, said plates defining a groove aligned with the channel in said head section track;

(d) a direction selector fixed upon said carrier and disposed in alignment with said guide plates, said selector and one of said guide plates extending said groove to the channel in the selected foot track to enable said curtain-carrying hook means to be pulled through the switch and into the selected foot section track channel thereby to screen the selected bed.

4. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 3 in which the body includes a plate member that is spaced from the ceiling by integral side flanges, in which integral end walls and side flanges depend from said plate to form a cavity in the body, and in which integral tongues project outwardly from the end walls and into grooves in the ceiling tracks to support the body against the ceiling.

5. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 4 in which the selector carrier includes a plate pivotally mounted in said body and engaging said plate member and in which a cup-shaped boss in the plate member contains a springpressed ball which projects into either one of two sockets in the selector carrier to retain the carrier in selected positions.

6. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 5 in which integral bosses depend from the selector carrier adjacent the head section end thereof, which bosses define between them a groove which converges from the head end of the plate into a parallel-sided groove and then diverges into a wide portion adjacent the transverse center of the plate, which groove is centered upon the longitudinal center line of the plate.

7. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 6 in which a boss depends from the selector carrier adjacent the pivot end therefrom, which boss contains a groove and in which the direction selector is provided with a boss that includes a tongue that projects in said groove to key the selector with respect to the carrier.

8. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 7 in which the selector boss is provided with a first threaded socket in which a screw is threaded to attach the selector to the carrier and a second threaded socket in which is threaded a pivot screw that extends through a perforation in the end wall of the body to support the carrier and selector in the cavity in the body.

9. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 5 in which each guide plate contains a pair of bosses, one at each end of the plate, which bosses project into sockets in the end walls of the body and in which screws projecting through the body plate are threaded into said bosses to secure the plates upon the body.

it A switch mechanism as specified in claim 9 in which buttons depending from the carrier bear against the guide plates to maintain the carrier a fixed distance from the plates and against the body plate.

11. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 3 in which the hook means comprises a body portion from which the curtain-supporting hook depends, said body portion containing laterally opening grooves, one on each side of the body, into which grooves the groove-defining edges of the guide plates and direction selector project to support the hook means and curtain on the switch mechanism.

12. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 11 in which the lead one of the hook means contains a tongue that extends upwardly from the body portion thereof, and in which the carrier contains a groove into which said tongue projects, said tongue moving the carrier about its pivot responsive to pulling the leading edge of the curtain towards the bed to be screened thereby to set the switch into position leading the hook means into the foot end track individual to that bed.

13. A switch mechanism as specified in claim 12 in which the edges of the guide plates and direction selector are rounded to permit limited oscillation of the hook means body in the groove defined by said edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,279,123 10/1966 Genison 49127 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,185,785 1/1965 Germany.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. MECHANISM FOR ENABLING A SINGLE CURTAIN TO BE MOVED SELECTIVELY INTO POSITION TO SCREEN EITHER ONE OF A PAIR OF HOSPITAL BEDS, COMPRISING: (A) A TRACK SUPPORTED BY THE CEILING BETWEEN THE BEDS AND EXTENDING FROM THE HEAD ENDS THEREOF TOWARDS THE FOOT ENDS THEREOF; (B) A SWITCH MECHANISM SUPPORTED BY THE CEILING ADJACENT THE FOOT END OF SAID TRACK; (C) A PAIR OF TRACKS ONE FOR EACH BED ARE SUPPORTED BY THE CEILING AND EXTEND FROM THE SWITCH MECHANISM TOWARDS THE FOOT ENDS OF THE BEDS, THENCE ACROSS THE FOOT END OF THE ASSOCIATED BED; (D) HOOK MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE CURTAIN BENEATH SAID TRACKS; 